Combustible fluid cutting safety system

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention provide components and a system for providing a safer environment for using a cutting torch. The system includes a cutting torch and a control box. There is communication from the user to the control box to allow fluids to flow to the torch. The control box includes closed biased valve(s) such that if there is a condition where there is no instruction from the troch to the control box and/or power is lost, the valves will shut, preventing fluid from flowing into the torch.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a fluid control system comprising of safetyfeatures.

BACKGROUND

When gas cutting in confined spaces, situations occur where combustiblegas and/or mixtures may escape into the area and create a combustiblesituation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with referencesto the following drawings. The components in the drawings are notnecessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed uponclearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in thedrawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 shows a safety system in accordance with one example embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a cutting torch;

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a control box;

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a cutting torch;

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a cutting system;

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a cutting system with integrated wiring;

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a cutting system having a remote safetyactuator connected directly to the control box;

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a cutting system having a remote safetyactuator connected to the torch;

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment if a cutting system where the cutting torchand the control box are in wireless communication;

FIG. 10A shows an embodiment of a cutting torch;

FIG. 10B is a detail of FIG. 10;

FIG. 11A shows another embodiment of a cutting torch; and

FIG. 11B is a detail of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certainillustrative aspects are described herein in connection with thefollowing description and the annexed drawings. These aspects areindicative of the various ways in which the principles disclosed hereincan be practiced. Other advantages and novel features will becomeapparent from the following detailed description when considered inconjunction with the drawings.

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way oflimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which likereferences indicate similar elements. It should be noted that referencesto “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily tothe same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a safety system is shown. In oneembodiment, the control box 1 comprises an oxygen valve 11 and a fuelvalve 12 that can be connected to an oxygen source and a fuel sourcerespectively. Both the oxygen valve 11 and the fuel valve 12 are biasedto the closed position. In some embodiments, both the oxygen valve 11and the fuel valve 12 are solenoid valves that are naturally closeduntil actuated by the supply of electricity, or in other embodiments,valves actuated by pneumatic pressure.

In some embodiments, the control box 1 further comprises a power switch13. The power switch 13 is able to cut electricity to the solenoids ofthe oxygen valve 11 and/or the fuel valve 12. In some embodiments, thepower switch 13 is a contactor. The power switch 13 can be incommunication with a safety actuator 25 associated with the cuttingtorch 2. In some embodiments, when the safety actuator 25 is not engagedby a user, the power switch 13 will cut electricity to the oxygen valve11 and/or the fuel valve 12. The closed biased nature of the oxygenvalve 11 and the fuel valve 12 will shut the valves. This will serve tocut flow of oxygen and/or fuel flow out of the control box 1 and to thecutting torch 2 when connected.

In some embodiments, the control box 1 further comprises a transformer14. The transformer 14 will drop the voltage that is being sent to thesafety actuator 25. This will decrease the chances of an arc and/or harmto people if exposed to uncovered wiring.

In some embodiments, the control box 1 further comprises an oxygen gauge15 and a fuel gauge 16. The oxygen gauge 15 and the fuel gauge 16 canmeasure the pressure in one or more lines 33 supplying the cutting torch2.

In some embodiments, the control box 1 further comprises a kill switch17. The kill switch 17, when actuated to the kill position, will preventflow regardless of the state of the safety actuator 25. The kill switch17 can be a push button. In some embodiments, once the kill switch 17has been actuated to the kill position, all that is required is to pushthe kill switch 17 a second time to return the control box 1 to normaloperation.

In some embodiments, the control box 1 will have a source of power. Someembodiments will comprise a rechargeable battery, a battery compartmentin the housing that can accept batteries, and/or the power cable 18. Thepower cable 18 may have a plug compatible with standard outlets.

The control box 1 will also further comprise one or more inlets 191(e.g. fuel inlet, oxygen inlet) and one or more outlets 192 (e.g. fueloutlet, oxygen outlet) to accept and expel the liquid or gas. The inlets191 and the outlets 192 will enable hoses to be coupled thereto.

As can further been seen, a cutting torch 2 is present. The cuttingtorch 2 will have one or more lines 33 bringing gas or liquid to thetorch inlet(s) 24 (e.g. oxygen inlet, fuel inlet) to the ignition pointat the torch outlet. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there are twolines 33, one line 33 for oxygen and another for fuel, in someembodiments the fuel is acetylene. In some embodiments the fuel ispropane. It is understood that any combustible gas or combustiblemixture of gases can be used in on ore more lines 33. Each line may havea valve at the cutting torch 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, thereis a torch oxygen valve 21 and a torch fuel valve 22. In someembodiments, there will be a secondary oxygen valve 23 that is in-linewith and is easier to actuate open and close than the torch oxygen valve21. The secondary oxygen valve 23 will increase the flow of oxygen whenactuated. In some embodiments, the secondary oxygen valve 23 willcontrol or regulate the flow of the oxygen.

The cutting torch 2 will have one or more torch inlets 24 (e.g. fuelinlet, oxygen fuel inlet) to accept a connection to a hose. The cuttingtorch 2 also comprises a torch outlet where the fuel or fuel and oxygencombination is expelled out of the cutting torch 2.

As mentioned above, the cutting torch 2 will have a safety actuator 25that can be in electrical contact with control box 1. In someembodiments, the safety actuator 25 will be opened biased. It will closewhen actively actuated by the user. The safety actuator 25 will helpprevent unwanted flow of combustible material from the source of thefuel and/or oxygen.

The connection between the safety actuator 25 and the control box 1 isestablished by the conduit 3. In some embodiments, the conduit 3comprises electrical wire. When the user actuates the safety actuator25, it results in the opening of the oxygen valve 11 and/or the fuelvalve 12. In some embodiments, connectors 31 will be located near thecontrol box 1 and the cutting torch 2. This will enable differentlengths of conduits 3 to be used. In some embodiments, the conduit 3will be embedded in or attached to the one or more lines 33. In otherembodiments, the conduit 3 and the one or more lines 33 will beseparate. In other embodiments, the conduit 3 is a wireless connection(as shown in FIG. 9). A pneumatic connection can also be established insome embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of a cutting torch 2 is shown. Inorder to use the cutting torch 2, the user would need to open the torchoxygen valve 21 and the torch fuel valve 22. However, until the safetyactuator 25 is actuated, fuel and/or oxygen will not flow to the cuttingtorch 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, an embodiment of a control box 1 is shown. As canbe seen, a kill switch 17 can be a large button easily seen by a userand hit in an emergency situation. The oxygen gauge 15 and the fuelgauge 16 can display the pressure within one or more lines 33.

Referring to FIG. 4, one embodiment of a cutting torch 2 is shown. Asshown in FIG. 2, the safety actuator 25 can comprise a trigger 258 thatis open biased by a spring 259 (as seen in FIGS. 10A-11B).

Referring to FIG. 5, one embodiment of the cutting system is shown. Theconduit 3 is external of the lines 33 and attached to the cutting torch2 via the connectors 31. It is understood that the conduit 3 can be, insome embodiments, integral (e.g. no connectors 31) with the control box1 and the cutting torch 2.

Referring to FIG. 6, one embodiment of the cutting system is shownhaving the connection between the safety actuator 25 and the oxygenvalve 11 and/or fuel valve 12 established by conduit(s) 3 running in,attached to, and/or along the line(s) 33. As shown in FIG. 6, there aretwo conduits 3, one in each line. The conduits 3 can be wiring orpneumatic tubing. By separating them in different lines 33, it isbelieved to lessen the likelihood of creating an arc, which is dangerousin the gas cutting environment, when using electric current. As can beseen, there is a connector 31 present at the control box 1 that willsupply the connection to the conduit 3. This can be electrical or apneumatic connection. Some embodiments will have a conduit 3 that isonly present in one line 33, thus there only be one connector 31. Giventhat different jobs may have different length requirements, differenthoses are sometimes used. When the conduit(s) 3 are integrated with thelines 33, there is no need to worry about another component to make surethe lengths of the lines 33 and the conduit(s) 3 are conducive to eachother.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a remote safety actuator 251 is present. Insome embodiments, the remote safety actuator 251 is a foot pedal with atrigger 258. The remote safety actuator 251 acts in the same manner asthe safety actuator 25. The remote safety actuator 251 can be attacheddirectly to the control box 1, as seen in FIG. 7. In these embodiments,there is no need for a safety actuator 25, located at the cutting torch2, nor a conduit 3. As seen in FIG. 8, the remote safety actuator 251can attach to the cutting torch 2, via a cable. In these embodiments,the length of the conduit 3 attaching the remote safety actuator 251 tothe cutting torch 2 can be predetermined. In the embodiments with a footpedal, different lengths can be designed for users of different heights.

Referring to FIG. 9, an embodiment using wireless communication betweenthe safety actuator 25 and the control box 1. In some embodiments, thewireless communication can be accomplished by electromagnetic radiation,BLUETOOTH, and/or Wi-Fi. The connection can be a direct connection orrelayed through a hub. Power can be supplied to a wireless transmitterin the cutting torch 2 from the control box 1 or a battery, rechargeableor not. The battery can be located in a compartment that is integralwith the cutting torch 2. The remote safety actuator 251 can be attachedto a cutting torch 2 that comprises a wireless transmitter.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, show embodiments of the cutting torch 2. Asecondary oxygen valve 23 is present in both, while the secondary oxygenvalve lever 231 may extend in opposite directions. An embodiment of thesafety actuator 25 is shown in detail. A trigger 258 rotates about anaxel 252. When the trigger 258 rotates about the axel 252, the triggerarm 254 will compress the spring 259 and actuate the roller lever arm255, which in turn will actuate the button 256. This will actuate theswitch 257. In some embodiments, the switch 257 can be an electricalswitch. In some embodiments, the switch 257 will be the OMRON switch,model number SS-5GL2T. Only when the button 256 is pressed, will theoxygen valve 11 and/or the fuel valve 12 open. In embodiments usingelectricity, a current will flow to the closed biased oxygen valve 11and/or the fuel valve 12 to actuate them to open. In embodimentsemploying pneumatic pressure, a pneumatic switch will be employed andair pressure will cause the opening of the closed biased oxygen valve 11and/or the fuel valve 12. While not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, anyconnection between the cutting torch 2 and the control box 1 discussedabove can be used.

What has been described above includes examples of the disclosedarchitecture. It is, of course, not possible to describe everyconceivable combination of components and/or methodologies, but one ofordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinationsand permutations are possible. Accordingly, the novel architecture isintended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations.And while the invention has been described above with respect to severalembodiments, any element and/or step described in reference to anyparticular embodiment is hereby disclosed to be associated with anyother embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, to the extent that theterm “includes” is used in either the detailed description or theclaims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to theterm “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as atransitional word in a claim.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the presentinvention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit thepresent invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order tobest explain the principles of the present invention and its practicalapplication, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilizethe present invention and various embodiments with various modificationsas are suited to the particular use contemplated.

1. An apparatus comprising a control box, the control box comprising: ahousing; a fuel valve, wherein the fuel valve is closed biased; anoxygen valve, wherein the oxygen valve is closed biased; a fuel inlet;an oxygen inlet; a fuel outlet; and an oxygen outlet; wherein the fuelvalve is located in the housing and is configured to control flowbetween the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet; the oxygen valve is locatedin the housing and is configured to control flow into the oxygen inletand out the oxygen outlet; and only material that has flowed through theoxygen valve can flow out the oxygen outlet.
 2. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the control box further comprises a fuel gauge configured todisplay pressure existing at the fuel outlet.
 3. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the control box further comprises kill switch that isconfigured to cause closure of the fuel valve when the kill switch isactuated to a kill position.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecontrol box further comprises kill switch that is configured to causeclosure of the fuel valve and the oxygen valve when the kill switch isactuated to a kill position.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecontrol box further comprises a remote safety actuator that is attachedto cable that extends from the housing.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein the remote safety actuator comprises a foot pedal.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the control box further comprises atransformer and a connector coupled to the transformer.
 8. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein both the fuel valve and the oxygen valve comprise asolenoid, and in an absence of electrical power, the solenoid is closed.9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fuel valve and oxygen valve areconfigured to either both be open or both be closed.
 10. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the control box further comprises a connector, andthe connector is an electrical connection.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the control box further comprises a connector, and the connectoris a pneumatic connection.